System and method for stacking containers

ABSTRACT

A method and system for stacking containers each container of a type having a front face having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a rear face having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a top base, a bottom base, a first vertical side adjacent to the top base, a second vertical side adjacent to the top base, a first sloped side between the first vertical side and the bottom base, a second sloped side between the second vertical side and the bottom base. A discharge valve projects from the bottom base where the first vertical side defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag. The containers are configured to be stackable in a manner to provide simultaneous reading of the multiple RFID tags on the platforms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation in part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 16/872,379, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,039,569, filed May 12,2020, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSINGAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 16/552,216, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,645,866 filed Aug. 27, 2019,entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURALPRODUCTS, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application. No.62/724,001 filed Aug. 28, 2018, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FORTRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. U.S. application Ser.Nos. 16/872,379, 16/552,216 and Provisional Application. No. 62/724,001are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to container systems fortransporting and dispensing agricultural products and more particularlyto a system for stacking a plurality of containers which provides thecapability of providing convenient, efficient reading of RFID tags onthe containers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Dispensing of multiple agricultural products, liquid and/or dry, at lowuse-rate and/or while using prescriptive application equipment, is ofincreasing importance in agricultural systems. Low use-rate agriculturalcrop input products, (including, but not limited to: insecticides,nematicides, herbicides, fungicides, nutrients, plant and soil healthstimulants, plant growth regulators, and fertilizers/plantnutritionals), combined with prescriptive application, reduces the totalvolume of these inputs that are handled by manufacturing, freight,warehousing and agricultural workers. Reduced handling means reducedworker exposure, and when these products are packaged in closed deliverysystem containers, worker exposure is reduced even more, due to the factthat agricultural workers aren't required to be in direct contact withthe containers as product is dispensed from the container in preparationfor or during application. Closed delivery system containers eliminatethe exposure that is normally associated with opening, pouring, andmixing chemicals that are packaged in containers that require suchactions.

An example of the use of multiple agricultural product containers fordispensing low-rate agricultural crop input products is illustrated in,for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/521,908, now U.S. Pat. No.9,820,431, entitled SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE AND LOWRATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

An example of the prescriptive application of a material dispensingsystem that simultaneously dispenses crop input products at specificprescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field isillustrated in, for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/614,547,entitled SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PRESCRIPTIVE APPLICATION OF MULTIPLEPRODUCTS.

The use of a combination of dry agricultural product dispensing systemsand syringe-type liquid pumps is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No.16/122,660, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE LOW RATEAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

U.S. application Ser. Nos. 14/521,908, 15/614,547, 16/122,660,16/872,379 are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

Typically, a number of containers need to be stored and inventoried, butheretofore a system for maintaining such storage and inventory has beendeficient. As will be disclosed below, the present system for stackingthe containers provides the capability of stacking a number ofcontainers on, for example, a pallet, and allowing for efficient readingof RFID tags on those stacked containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method and systemfor stacking a number of containers. Each container includes a frontface having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a rear face having atruncated trapezoidal shape, a top base, a bottom base, a first verticalside adjacent to the top base, a second vertical side adjacent to thetop base, a first sloped side between the first vertical side and thebottom base, a second sloped side between the second vertical side andthe bottom base. The front face, rear face, top base, bottom base, firstvertical side, and second vertical side are configured to define anenclosure. A discharge valve projects from the bottom base where thefirst vertical side defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag. Eachlayer of containers includes a first container, a second containerpositioned adjacent to the first container so that their respective topbases abut, a third container positioned adjacent to the secondcontainer so that its second sloped side abuts a second sloped side ofthe second container, a fourth container positioned adjacent to thethird container so that its first sloped side abuts the first slopedside of the third container, a fifth container positioned adjacent tothe fourth container so that their respective top bases abut, a sixthcontainer positioned adjacent to the fifth container so that its secondsloped side abuts the second sloped side of the fifth container and afirst sloped side of the sixth container abuts a second sloped side ofsaid first container. The first container, the second container, thethird container, the fourth container, the fifth container and the sixthcontainer are positioned about a central axis. Additional layers ofcontainers along the central axis are configured the same as the firstlayer of containers, where the first vertical side defining a platformfor supporting an RFID tag is external for providing efficient readingof RFID tags on the platforms.

In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a container systemfor transporting and dispensing agricultural products. The containersystem includes a housing assembly and a set of agricultural productcontainers. The housing assembly has multiple slot assemblies forcontainers. The agricultural product containers are configured to bereleasably contained within the slot assemblies. The set of agriculturalproduct containers may include liquid agricultural product containersand dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies andagricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to providethe ability to utilize either of said liquid or said dry agriculturalproduct containers within said slot assemblies.

In another broad aspect, the invention is embodied as a housing assemblyfor a container system configured to transport and dispense agriculturalproducts. The housing assembly includes a number of slot assemblies;push assemblies; and lock-arm assemblies. Each push assembly isassociated with a respective slot assembly. Each lock arm assembly isoperably connectable to a push assembly so that actuation of the pushassembly by a user disengages a lock arm assembly from a container,providing for the capability to release the container from the slotassembly.

When the container is released from the slot assembly a discharge valveassembly connected to a container is simultaneously closed. Thesimultaneous closing of the container discharge valve when the lock armassembly is disengaged or released is important as it prevents removalof the container if the discharge valve is still open. The dischargevalve is designed to allow opening only by means of the “key” which ispart of the mechanism which opens and closes the discharge valve inconcert with the operation of the lock arm assembly. This ensures thatthe container can only be opened via the mechanical operation of thecombination lock arm assembly and container discharge valve assembly. Inother words, the container discharge valve can't be opened by anindividual without destroying the container or discharge valve, unlessthe container is installed into the slot assembly. Preventing thecontainer from opening until it has been properly installed in thecontainer slot assembly, and the combination lock arm assembly andcontainer valve mechanism have been mechanically manipulated, preventsproduct from leaking from the container valve when the container is notinstalled in the container slot. Interconnecting the container lockassembly mechanism (i.e. push assembly and lock arm assembly) with thedischarge valve mechanism, disallows removal of the product containerfrom the slot assembly until the container lock assembly mechanism hasbeen disengaged and the container discharge valve has been completelyclosed. This prevents product from being leaked or spilled from acontainer that might otherwise be removed from the slot assembly priorto closing the container discharge valve. The slot assemblies areconfigured to accommodate liquid agricultural product containers and dryagricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agriculturalproduct containers are cooperatively configured to provide the abilityto utilize either of said liquid or said dry agricultural productcontainers within said slot assemblies. Additionally, the slotassemblies, the lock arm assemblies, and the container discharge valveassembles are designed in such a manner as to facilitate quick and easyinstallation and exchange of product containers.

It is normally feasible for an operator with no prior training to beable to install a container and manipulate the combination containerlock assembly mechanism and discharge valve assembly operation within aspan of time of as little as 10 seconds, and it takes just about thesame length of time to remove one container and replace it with another.An additional feature of this invention is that little to no additionaltime is required when switching from a dry product to a liquid product,or vice versa. In other words, one can remove a dry product containerand replace it with a liquid product container in just about the sameshort time period as required to replace a dry product container withanother dry product container. The same holds true if one wishes toreplace a liquid container with a dry product container.

In another broad aspect, the invention is embodied as a container havingfront and rear faces with truncated trapezoidal shapes. One of the sidesdefines a platform for supporting an RFID tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, front, left side perspective view of a dry agriculturalproduct container in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom, front, right side perspective view thereof.

FIG. 3 is left side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 4 is right side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 7 is a front plan view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a rear plan view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a top, front, left side perspective view of a liquidagricultural product container in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a bottom, front, right side perspective view thereof.

FIG. 11 is left side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 12 is right side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 15 is a front plan view thereof.

FIG. 16 is a rear plan view thereof.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a container system for transporting anddispensing agricultural products, shown positioned on a planter.

FIG. 18 illustrates a first step in the manner in which a dry containeris released from the housing assembly of container system.

FIG. 19 shows a dry container being removed from the housing assembly.

FIG. 20 shows two push assemblies of the housing assembly opened, a drycontainer shown being installed.

FIG. 21 illustrates engagement of the handle element to secure acontainer in the housing assembly.

FIG. 22 shows the containers in place.

FIG. 23 shows a liquid container released in a similar manner as the drycontainer by rotating the handle element.

FIG. 24 shows a liquid container being removed.

FIG. 25 shows a dry container being removed from the middle slot.

FIG. 26 shows the middle slot being used to support a liquid container.

FIG. 27 shows a liquid pump being removed from the slot assembly of thehousing assembly.

FIG. 28 shows detachment of a dry meter from the housing assembly, via aquick detach mechanism.

FIG. 29 is a perspective illustration of the container system with theend walls of the housing assembly being shown removed to show details ofthe push assembly.

FIG. 30 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a dryagricultural product container utilized in the present system forstacking containers.

FIG. 31 is a bottom perspective view of the dry agricultural productcontainer of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a perspective illustration of the system for stackingcontainers of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 32 shown from theopposite side.

FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective illustration of the system of FIG. 32showing two of the eight levels of containers.

FIG. 35 is a front view of the system for stacking containers of FIG.32.

FIG. 36 is a side view of the system for stacking containers of FIG. 32.

The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings aredesignated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elementsbear a prime designation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference markedthereon, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a dry agricultural product container 10,in accordance with the principles of this invention, having atrapezoidal configuration that allows dry agricultural product,typically a flowable, granular material, to gravity flow down sides 12,through a discharge port, to a removable attached discharge valve 13.Handle 14 provides a method of carrying the container 10. A recessedpanel 18, having a beveled edge, is designed to nest into a matchingraised panel 19 on an adjacent container on a container pallet (notshown) thus designed to locate and prevent the containers from shiftingin transit. A raised panel 19 (see FIG. 2), having a complementary shapewith recessed panel 18 of container 10, is designed to have containersinterlock when stacked upon one another. A recessed rectangular platform20, on a vertical side 22 of container 10, provides a protective areafor placement of an RFID tag 24. Weather cap 26, of container 10,provides protection from the elements ensuring granular product is freeof moisture. The weather cap 26 covers a filling opening.

This unique shape for a dry agricultural product container provides anefficient trapezoidal flow path. As used herein, when referring to thetrapezoidal flow path, the term “trapezoidal flow path” refers broadlyto a flow path that has a larger width adjacent to the product volumeand a smaller width at the outlet, regardless of whether the taperbetween the larger width and smaller width is continuous ordiscontinuous or interrupted or uninterrupted.

In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the front face 28and the rear face 30 each have a truncated trapezoidal shape. As usedherein the term “truncated trapezoidal shape” refers to a trapezoid withtwo truncated apices. In this preferred embodiment the front face 28,the rear face 30, a top base 32, a bottom base 33, a first vertical side36 adjacent to the top base 32, the second vertical side 22 adjacent tothe top base 32, the first sloped side 12 between the first verticalside 36 and the bottom base 33, a second sloped side 34 between thesecond vertical side 22 and the bottom base 34, are collectivelyconfigured to form an enclosure.

This dry agricultural product container 10 cooperates in a synergisticmanner with a liquid agricultural product container, as will bediscussed below.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-16, a liquid agricultural product container,designated generally as 38, is illustrated. The liquid agriculturalproduct container 38 preferably includes two protective caps 40, 42 forshipping and storage. One of the top caps is removable for filling theliquid agricultural product container. The other cap is removable toprovide access for appropriate fluid conduits. In this preferredembodiment of a liquid container shown in FIGS. 9-16 the front face 44and the rear face 46 each have an “angled, truncated trapezoidal shape”referring to apices that are not only truncated but also angled.

Referring now to FIGS. 17-29, an overall container system, designatedgenerally as 100 is illustrated. The container system 100, fortransporting and dispensing agricultural products, includes a housingassembly 102 and a set of agricultural product containers 10, 10′, and38. The housing assembly 102 is shown secured to a planter 103. Thehousing assembly 102 includes a number of slot assemblies 104 for thecontainers 10, 10′, and 38. The agricultural product containers areconfigured to be releasably contained within the slot assemblies 104. Inthese figures, the set of agricultural product containers includes aliquid agricultural product container 38 and two dry agriculturalproduct containers 10, 10′. The slot assemblies 104 and agriculturalproduct containers are cooperatively configured to provide the abilityto interchange any of the agricultural product containers within theslot assemblies. In other words, dry agricultural product containers canbe placed in any of the slots and liquid agricultural product containerscan be placed in any of the slots. In the example shown in these figuresthree containers are illustrated, two being dry agricultural productcontainers 10, 10′ and one being a liquid agricultural product container38. However, it is understood that container system 100 can bemanufactured to include a desired number of slot assemblies 104.

The housing assembly 102 includes push assemblies 108, each associatedwith a respective slot assembly 104. Lock arm assemblies 110 areoperably connected to the push assemblies 108, wherein actuation of apush assembly 108 by a user disengages a lock arm assembly 110 from acontainer providing for the capability to release the container from theslot assembly 104.

FIGS. 18-22 show two dry containers 10, 10′, 38 being removed from thehousing assembly 102, with one of the dry containers being replaced. Thedry agricultural containers are oriented within the slot assemblies 104so that the discharge valve 13 is positioned on the bottom.

FIG. 18 illustrates a first step in the manner in which a dry container10′ is released from the system 100. In a first step the operatorrotates a handle element 112 and pushes it in. This causes a hold down(release) arm 114 of the lock arm assembly 110 to rotate up and awayfrom an associated container. (The ability to provide this actuationwill be discussed in detail below with respect to FIG. 29.)

FIG. 19 shows the dry container 10′ being removed from the housingassembly 102. (The hold down arm 114 associated with the end drycontainer 10 also shown lifted in the first step toward its removal.)

FIG. 20 shows two push assemblies 108 opened, one of the dry containers10′ shown being installed, one of the slot assemblies 104 being empty.Thus, for example, one of the dry containers can be swapped with anotherdry container.

FIG. 21 illustrates engagement of the handle element 112 to secure the(middle) dry container 10′ in the housing assembly. The associatedhandle element 112 has been pushed out to hold the middle container 10′in place.

FIG. 22 shows the containers 10, 10′, 38 in place within the housingassembly 102. Orientation of the handle element 112 to a verticalposition indicates that the agricultural product is ready to bedispensed.

Each of the slot assemblies are preferably configured to accommodateeither liquid agricultural product containers or dry agriculturalproduct containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural productcontainers are preferably cooperatively configured to provide theability to interchange the agricultural product containers within theslot assemblies.

As shown in FIG. 23, a liquid container 38 is released in a similarmanner as the dry container by rotating and actuating the handle element112. However, the appropriate fluid conduits 120 are required to beconnected. The fluid conduit connections are completed using leak-proof,quick-connect/disconnect union devices of a type that are similar inspeed and operation to the quick-connect/disconnect union devicescommonly found on pressurized air hoses that are used to add air toautomobile tires. These conduits 120 connect the liquid container 38 toa liquid pump 122, as will be discussed below.

FIG. 24 shows a liquid container 38 being removed. It can be swappedwith either another liquid container or with a dry container.

FIG. 25 shows a dry container 10′ being removed from the middle slot.

In FIG. 26 that middle slot is shown being used to support a liquidcontainer 38.

The slot assembly 104 includes the ability to hold liquid pumps 122 tosupport the operation of liquid containers 38. FIG. 27 shows a liquidpump 122 being removed from the slot assembly. A variety of differenttypes of liquid pumps may be utilized. A syringe type pump is preferred.Such a syringe-type is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Publication No.US 2018/0359909 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,660)incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety. Both the liquid pumpsand dry meters may be attached/reattached by quick detach mechanisms.

Referring to FIG. 28, a dry meter 124 is supported in the housingassembly 102 below the dry container 10. The dry meter 124 may be anelectromechanical solenoid driven device for dry material. One type ofmetering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,913, entitled“Self-Calibrating Meter With In-Meter Diffuser”. Another type ofmetering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,782, entitled“Transfer Valve For a Granular Materials Dispensing System”. Anothertype of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,794,entitled “Metering Device for Granular Materials”. Another type ofmetering device for dry granular material is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,156,372, entitled Metering Device for Granular Materials. Another typeof metering device, is described in U.S. Publication No.US20170043961A1, entitled Brush Auger Meter, which describes a devicefor metering granular or powdered product, having a meter housing, anauger housing positioned within the meter housing, the auger housinghaving an inlet opening for receiving the granular or powdered product,a rotatable spiral brush mounted within the auger housing, a firstdischarge outlet near one end of the auger housing for discharginggranular or powdered product, and another opening near another end ofthe auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product notdischarged through the first discharge opening. U.S. Pat. Nos.7,171,913; 5,687,782; 5,524,794; 5,156,372 and, U.S. Publication No.US20170043961A1 are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. FIG. 28 shows detachment of a dry meter 124 from the housingassembly, via a quick detach mechanism. The left hand has lifted theleft latch 126 and the right hand has grasped the right latch 128 butnot opened it yet.

Referring now to FIG. 29 a container system is illustrated with the endwalls of the housing assembly 102 removed to show the housing assembly102 in greater detail than the previous figures. Each push assembly 108includes a handle assembly 130 engageable by a user via the handleelement 112. The handle assembly 130 includes the handle element 112, ahandle shaft 132, and handle assembly pins 134.

Each push assembly 108 also includes a rail assembly 136 operablyconnected to the handle assembly 130 having a vertical element 138 forpushing against a vertical portion 140 of an associated lock armassembly 110 enabling rotation thereof for disengagement of a container.

The rail assembly 136 includes a tab 142 at an end thereof whichreleases the associated lock arm assembly 110 enabling the rotationthereof. The lock arm assembly 110 includes a slot 144 for detaching thelock arm assembly 110 from the push assembly 108 thus allowing the lockarm assembly 110 to rotate away from the abutting container when thehandle assembly 130 is pushed in.

Each rail assembly 136 includes rail assembly pins 146 for engagementwith the discharge valve assembly 13 attachable to a container tocontrol discharge of agricultural products. A sprocket 148 of thedischarge valve assembly engages the rail assembly pins 146 to open adischarge valve of the discharge valve assembly 13 when a container hasbeen secured. When the container is detached the push assembly 108 alsoautomatically closes the discharge valve. Thus, in this preferredembodiment each push assembly and operably connectable lock arm assemblycollectively define a container lock assembly mechanism which isoperably connectable to a discharge valve assembly attachable to acontainer by this “key” engagement therebetween.

The push assembly 108, when engaged to release a container,simultaneously 1) pushes the tab 142 away from the lock arm assembly110; 2) lifts the hold down arm 114 of the lock arm assembly 110,providing rotation of the lock arm assembly 110; and, 3) closes thedischarge valve of the discharge valve assembly 13.

The handle assembly pins 134 engage a slot 148 on the rail assembly 136to provide axial movement of the handle shaft beyond a stop point.Complete actuation of the handle assembly 130 requires further rotationsof the handle 112 to provide alignment of the handle assembly pins 134with the slot 148 on the rail assembly 136. This is provided for safetypurposes.

In summary, the agricultural containers include the following features:

Trapezoid shape—With the dry containers the sloped sides allow asufficiently steep angle of repose that allows granules to gravity-flowout the discharge outlet in the bottom of the container. The similarlyshaped liquid container can be used in the common container housingassembly on a planter row unit, as discussed above.

The recessed area in the top of the container serves as a handle that'sbuilt-in/integral to the container as the container is beingmanufactured during, for example, a rotational molding process. Thehandle facilitates installation and removal of filled containers.

The opening on one side of the dry container serves as the access pointby which agricultural product is introduced into the container duringthe filling/refilling process. A protective, tamper-evident cap isprovided to prevent moisture and/or anything other than the intended andauthorized crop input product from an authorized refiller from enteringthe dry cartridge and to provide evidence if the seal for this area hasbeen broken. If the seal has been broken, the dry cartridge is notgenerally eligible for refilling unless and until it's been emptied,washed, and re-certified as clean and eligible for use.

Both dry and liquid cartridges preferably include a raised panel on oneface and a recessed panel on the opposite face. This facilitatesshipment of the containers, as the raised panel from one containerresides within or “nests” with the recessed area of a container that'sstacked adjacent to it. The nesting feature minimizes movement of thecontainers when stacked.

The discharge port on the bottom of the dry container is the point fromwhich product flows during application. In one embodiment, a rotatingdischarge valve may be manufactured separately from the container. Thevalve can be installed as part of an operational “cartridge” each andevery time. The valve will work in combination with thehardware/software on the operating equipment.

The discharge port of the liquid container does not have a rotatingvalve; and, the discharge port of the liquid container is positioned ina different location from the discharge port of a dry container. Thedifferent position is to prevent leakage from a liquid container intothe dry application meter that resides directly below the discharge portof a dry container; 3) liquid product is sucked out of the container viaa dip-tube positioned in the container. The dip tube may be manufacturedseparately and installed in each liquid container in a manner that issimilar to how a rotating valve is installed in each dry container. Eachdip tube is preferably equipped with a fitting/apparatus that allows aquick-connect/disconnect device to be attached to another fitting that,when attached, allows the liquid contents of the container to bepumped-out/withdrawn from the container. In some embodiments, one ormore pressure relief valves that enable equalization of the internalcartridge air pressure with the atmospheric pressure outside thecontainer can be included.

The agricultural products may be nematicides or insecticides, or a widevariety of other crop enhancement agricultural products such asfungicides, plant growth regulators (PGRs), micro-nutrients, etc.

The container system herein is particularly useful with low-rateagricultural products. As used herein the term “low-rate” or “low rate”as it applies to liquids refers to a rate defined as below 3.7 fluidounces per 1000 row feet. When utilized with a syringe pumpultra-low-rates are achievable, i.e. below 0.9 fluid ounces per 1000 rowfeet. As it applies to dry, flowable agricultural products the term“low-rate” or “low rate” refers to a rate below 3 ounces per 1000 rowfeet.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,660, filed Aug. 25, 2018,entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE LOW RATE AGRICULTURALPRODUCTS, discussed above discloses various systems and methods forapplying agricultural products as well as dry meters and liquid pumpsfor these systems.

Referring now to FIGS. 30-31, an alternate embodiment of a dryagricultural product container is illustrated, generally designated as150. In this embodiment the position of the RFID tag has been changedfrom that in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8. Otherwise, the geometryof the dry agricultural product containers remains the same. Each dryagricultural product container 150 includes a front face 152 having atruncated trapezoidal shape. The rear face 154 also has a truncatedtrapezoidal shape. Each dry container 150 includes a top base 156, abottom base 158, a first vertical side 160, a second vertical side 162,a first sloped side 164, a second sloped side 166, and a discharge valve168. The first vertical side 160 is adjacent to the top base 156. Thesecond vertical side 162 is also adjacent to the top base 156. The firstsloped side 164 is positioned between the first vertical side 160 andthe bottom base 158. The second sloped side 166 is positioned betweenthe second vertical side 162 and the bottom base 158. The front face152, rear face 154, top base 156, bottom base 158, first vertical side160, and second vertical side 162 are configured to define an enclosure.

In this embodiment, the first vertical side 160 defines a platformsupporting an RFID tag 188. In this embodiment, as discussed below, thedry containers are particularly adaptable to being stacked for use on apallet.

FIGS. 32-36 illustrate a system 170 for stacking these dry agriculturalproduct containers. FIGS. 32 and 33 show the complete system forstacking of containers 170. In the system 170 shown, there are eightlayers of containers: a first layer 172, a second layer 174, a thirdlayer 176, a fourth layer 178, a fifth layer 180, a sixth layer 182, aseventh layer 184, and an eighth layer 186. The first layer 172 and theadditional layers of stacked layers are positioned between a top palletplate 190 and a bottom pallet plate 192. The bottom pallet plate 192 ispositioned on a pallet element 194. The bottom pallet plate 192 issecured to the top pallet plate 190 by an elastic cord 196.

FIG. 34 shows the system for the stacking of containers 170 in anexploded view showing only the first layer 172 and eighth layer 186 forthe purposes of clarity. Each layer includes six containers: a firstcontainer 200, a second container 202, a third container 204, a fourthcontainer 206, a fifth container 208, and a sixth container 210. Thesecond container 202 is positioned adjacent to the first container 200so that their respective top bases 156 abut each other. The thirdcontainer 204 is positioned adjacent to the second container 202 so thatits second sloped side 166 abuts the second sloped side 166 of thesecond container 202. The fourth container 206 is positioned adjacent tothe third container 204 so that its first sloped side 164 abuts thefirst sloped side 164 of the third container 204. The fifth container208 is positioned adjacent to the fourth container 206 so that theirrespective top bases 156 abut. The sixth container 210 is positionedadjacent to the fifth container 208 so that its second sloped side 166abuts a second sloped side 166 of the fifth container 208. The firstsloped side 164 of the sixth container 210 abuts a second sloped side166 of the first container 200. The first container 200, the secondcontainer 202, the third container 204, the fourth container 206, thefifth container 208 and sixth container 210 are positioned about acentral axis 212.

The additional layers of containers are stacked along the central axis212, and are positioned in the same manner as the first layer 172 ofcontainers. The first vertical side 160 of each container supports anRFID tag 188 which is external for providing efficient, line of sightreading of the RFID tags on the platforms. Such positioning of the RFIDtags on containers stacked in such an arrangement facilitatessimultaneous reading of all of the tags on an individual pallet, and italso facilitates simultaneous reading of all the tags on multiplepallets, when said pallets are present together as might occur in awarehouse, shipping container, delivery truck, rail car, or means oftransport.

As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devisedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

1. A method for stacking a plurality of containers, comprising: a)providing a plurality of containers, each container, comprising: a frontface having a truncated trapezoidal shape; a rear face having atruncated trapezoidal shape; a top base; a bottom base; a first verticalside adjacent to said top base; a second vertical side adjacent to saidtop base; a first sloped side between said first vertical side and saidbottom base; a second sloped side between said second vertical side andsaid bottom base; wherein said front face, rear face, top base, bottombase, first vertical side, and second vertical side are configured todefine an enclosure; a discharge valve projecting from said bottom base;and, wherein said first vertical side defines a platform for supportingan RFID tag; b) arranging a first layer of containers, comprising: afirst container; a second container positioned adjacent to said firstcontainer so that their respective top bases abut; a third containerpositioned adjacent to said second container so that its second slopedside abuts a second sloped side of the second container; a fourthcontainer positioned adjacent to said third container so that its firstsloped side abuts a first sloped side of the third container; a fifthcontainer positioned adjacent to said fourth container so that theirrespective top bases abut; a sixth container positioned adjacent to saidfifth container so that its second sloped side abuts a second slopedside of the fifth container and a first sloped side of the sixthcontainer abuts a second sloped side of said first container; whereinsaid first container, said second container, said third container, saidfourth container, said fifth container and said sixth container arepositioned about a central axis; c) stacking additional layers ofcontainers along said central axis, said additional layers beingconfigured the same as said first layer of containers, wherein saidfirst vertical side defining a platform for supporting an RFID tag isexternal for providing simultaneous reading of multiple RFID tags on theplatforms.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein each container of saidplurality of containers includes a raised panel on either said frontface or said rear face, and a recessed panel on an opposite face forproviding nesting when the containers are stacked.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein each container of said plurality of containers isconfigured to contain dry agricultural product.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein said first layer and additional layers of stacked layers arepositioned between a top pallet plate and a bottom pallet plate, andwherein said bottom pallet plate is positioned on a pallet element. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein said first layer and additional layers ofstacked layers are positioned between a top pallet plate and a bottompallet plate, and wherein said bottom pallet plate is positioned on apallet element; and, wherein the bottom pallet plate is secured to thetop pallet plate by an elastic cord.
 6. A system for stacking aplurality of containers, comprising: a) a plurality of containers, eachcontainer, comprising: a front face having a truncated trapezoidalshape; a rear face having a truncated trapezoidal shape; a top base; abottom base; a first vertical side adjacent to said top base; a secondvertical side adjacent to said top base; a first sloped side betweensaid first vertical side and said bottom base; a second sloped sidebetween said second vertical side and said bottom base; wherein saidfront face, rear face, top base, bottom base, first vertical side, andsecond vertical side are configured to define an enclosure; a dischargevalve projecting from said bottom base; and, wherein said first verticalside defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag; b) wherein saidplurality of containers defines a first layer of said plurality ofcontainers, said first layer comprising: a first container; a secondcontainer positioned adjacent to said first container so that theirrespective top bases abut; a third container positioned adjacent to saidsecond container so that its second sloped side abuts a second slopedside of the second container; a fourth container positioned adjacent tosaid third container so that its first sloped side abuts a first slopedside of the third container; a fifth container positioned adjacent tosaid fourth container so that their respective top bases abut; a sixthcontainer positioned adjacent to said fifth container so that its secondsloped side abuts a second sloped side of the fifth container and afirst sloped side of the sixth container abuts a second sloped side ofsaid first container; wherein said first container, said secondcontainer, said third container, said fourth container, said fifthcontainer and said sixth container are positioned about a central axis;c) additional layers of containers being stacked along said centralaxis, said additional layers being configured the same as said firstlayers of containers, wherein said first vertical side defining aplatform for supporting an RFID tag is external for providingsimultaneous reading of multiple RFID tags on the platforms.